Work led by Landcare Research, supported by Plant and Food Research, AgriLINK New Zealand, and Massey University, produced an indicative sector carbon footprint for ZESPRI ® GREEN, GOLD and ORGANIC Kiwifruit for Zespri International Ltd and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.The kiwifruit study modelled the carbon footprint of green, gold and green organic kiwifruit based on data from 61 orchards and 10 coolstores/packhouses (based on the 2002/3 and 2003/4 seasons). The GHG footprint included all operations from growing and picking fruit in orchards, through the storage and shipping, to being eaten and disposed of by consumers.

Water footprinting green kiwifruit

A partnership with Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research and AgriLink, this project was the first-ever comprehensive water footprinting exercise to be carried out in the New Zealand horticulture sector. The research evaluated two emerging approaches - the Water Footprinting Network (WFN) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - and also investigated a third hydrological-based perspective. Used in tandem, these different approaches provide deeper insight into the direct and indirect freshwater consumption by a product.The research is used to support positive positioning with key global retailers, such as Walmart, Marks & Spencer, and Sainsburys, who are increasingly paying attention to the water footprints of suppliers. Alongside the information on the carbon footprinting work done by Landcare Research and others for the company, the water footprint study has been included in Zespri’s Sustainability Brochure.